8 Surprising Uses for Lemons ...

Photo Credit: A. Drauglis Furnituremaker

Lemons are useful for cleaning many things, especially plastic or wood cutting boards. I use mine a lot and am always looking for good ways to clean it without risking anything that touches it tasting like soap. Using a lemon and then letting it rest will clean your board, plus it’s sort of like built-in seasoning!

I know about this use firsthand, unfortunately. The Better Half reminded me of this – such a helpful peach! Basically, warming lemons or lemon juice in a microwave can help take any gnarly smells out of your microwave. Like if your BFF finds the same things funny at 25 that he did at 12 and once had a tendency to put awful things in the things. Like raw eggs in their shells and bottles of body spray. Actually, if you go with whole or halved lemons, warming them up makes them much easier to juice.

Putting lemon juice in your laundry is said to be extremely helpful. In fact, you can use it in lieu of bleach. Depending on the size of your load, you need between a quarter and half a cup. Great way to use up lemons that might be going bad!

Photo Credit: Cookthinker

I admit, I did not know this one – and I really should have, for as much as I cook. If you’re cooking fruits like apples, a small squeeze of lemon juice can keep them from getting too brown.

Using lemons as a means of decoration has many benefits. It is unique and innovative, for one thing. For another, it will give the room it decorates a great smell. There are so many things you can do here. You can get downright artistic.

I didn’t realize lemons could lighten your hair quite as much as it actually can, until I started reading about the subject. I started scooping after an episode of the new Hawaii 5-0, I admit. Balthazar Getty, in addition to being a huge blast from the past, used lemon juice and mayonnaise, of all things, to lighten his hair. I don’t know about the mayo, I don’t even like it on my food, but evidently enough lemon juice can lighten your hair a lot even without being in the sun – although that helps.

I did not know this either, but some say that cooking half a lemon until the peel gets brown, then mixing the juice with honey, can soothe a sore throat. I’ve never tried it but I definitely will next time. My mom is always telling me to gargle saltwater. Which I do not do.

Photo Credit: graygoosie

If I’m making fish or something, I end up with stinky hands. Used to happen in the biology labs as well, even through gloves. A squirt of lemon juice rubbed over your hands will help remove a lot of nasty smells.

I can’t wait to try some of these and see how they work. Do any of you know any other uses for fruits or vegetables – cleaning tips, facial masks, anything like that?

Top Photo Credit: Cooriander